Always You

Chapter 14

{Layla}

{Eleven years earlier}

I open the door and find Jas standing there. After my revelation today I didn't really get any time with Jas to talk. I knew for our friendship we would need time together so passed up time with Meg knowing Jas would pop over. We didn't even need to confirm this, I think we both just knew this was going to happen. What I didn't know was the outcome. After all, it's not every day you come out to your friends.

We greet each other a little awkwardly for us as I make room for her to enter. "Let's go to my room."

"Do your parents know?" she asks.

"Yep." I told them over the weekend, then my mum told me 'duh'. What I hadn't told Meg was that my mum also realised that she was my girlfriend. Mum promised to keep her mouth shut about that so I didn't want to scare Meg.

"And they're okay with you having a girl in your room?" she asks, raising a single eyebrow.

"They haven't stopped me before. Why? You afraid I'm going to jump your bones Jas?" I say smiling over my shoulder.

"Please, I'm way out of your league." She scoffs good naturedly, following me up the stairs.

We've started bantering, that's a good sign, maybe today will go well.

We walk into my bedroom and I pause, wondering where to sit. "So..." I start to say before Jas pulls me into a big hug. Shocked, I take a breath and return the hug. "I love you Jas, but not like that." I say with a nervous chuckle. She pulls back to slap me before pulling me back in.

"I'm sorry I've been such a nag. You've been going through all this and I haven't helped. Please tell me my nagging didn't force you to come out."

"No, Jas." I say shocked she would think that. Pulling out of the hug I move us both to sit on the bed. "I came out because I couldn't stand not being myself anymore. That probably sounds weird."

"No, no, I understand. You've always been a lesbian but until we all knew you felt like a part of you was hidden."

"Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't tell you separate to the others. Jas, today was one of the scariest moments of my life. I couldn't go through it multiple times."

"I get it, I really do." She says putting a comforting arm around me, as I fight to keep tears at bay. "I'm still your best friend, let's make that clear right now. I promise to keep the talk about boys to a minimum."

"Jas, you can still talk to me about guys you like. I may not understand the attraction but I still want you to talk to me." I say wanting to convince her that nothing needs to change.

"And you can talk to me about girls." She says to me confidently.

"Well, there's only one but she's not ready to come out."

"So, you do have a girlfriend? How long have you been together?"

"We've been together for over a year. I love her Jas."

"Oh boy, it sounds like we have a lot to catch up on, I hope you don't have any other plans for the rest of the night." She says getting comfortable on the bed like we'd done many times before.

I laugh and groan slightly, loving the feeling at being able to talk to Jas openly, even if I have to keep Megs identity a secret.

"No other plans."